Using optical tweezers and microfluidics, we stretch either the lipid or polymer membranes of liposomes or polymersomes, respectively, into long nanotubes. The membranes can be grabbed directly with the optical tweezers to produce sub-micron diameter tubes that are several hundred microns in length. We can stretch tubes up to a centimeter in length, limited only by the travel of our microscope stage. We also demonstrate the cross linking of a pulled polymer nanotube.

Joseph E. Reiner, National Institute of Standards and Technology (United States)Rani Kishore, National Institute of Standards and Technology (United States)Candace Pfefferkorn, National Institute of Standards and Technology (United States)Jeffrey Wells, National Institute of Standards and Technology (United States)Kristian Helmerson, National Institute of Standards and Technology (United States)Peter Howell, National Institute of Standards and Technology (United States)

Wyatt Vreeland, National Institute of Standards and Technology (United States)Samuel Forry, National Institute of Standards and Technology (United States)Laurie Locascio, National Institute of Standards and Technology (United States)Darwin Reyes-Hernandez, National Institute of Standards and Technology (United States)Michael Gaitan, National Institute of Standards and Technology (United States)